Traffic data prediction device, traffic data prediction method and computer program

Abstract

A traffic data prediction device includes an original link traffic data storage unit ( 103 ) for storing traffic data per original link as a predetermined road link, an extended link generation unit ( 104 ) for generating an extended link from the original links, and an extended link traffic data prediction unit ( 108 ) for predicting traffic data per extended link generated in the extended link generation unit ( 104 ) by use of traffic data per original link. The extended link generation unit ( 104 ) decides the original links for generating the extended link based on data indicating a predictive accuracy of traffic data in a combined link combining the selected original links, and generates the extended link made of the decided original links as elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A traffic data prediction device comprising:
 an original link traffic data storage unit for storing traffic data per original link as a predetermined road link; 
 an extended link generation unit for generating an extended link from the original links; and 
 an extended link traffic data prediction unit for predicting traffic data per extended link generated in the extended link generation unit by use of traffic data per original link, 
 wherein the extended link generation unit decides the original links for generating the extended link based on data indicating a predictive accuracy of traffic data in a combined link combining the selected original links, and generates the extended link made of the decided original links as elements. 
 
     
     
       2. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the extended link traffic data prediction unit predicts traffic data per extended link based on traffic data per extended link calculated by use of the original link traffic data corresponding to the original links as the elements of the generated extended link. 
     
     
       3. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an extended link division unit for dividing the traffic data per extended link predicted in the extended link traffic data prediction unit and assigning the divided traffic data to each of the original links as the elements of the extended link. 
 
     
     
       4. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 3 , wherein the extended link division unit divides traffic data per extended link predicted in the extended link traffic data prediction unit according to an attribute value of each of the original links as the elements of the extended link. 
     
     
       5. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the extended link generation unit predicts traffic data in the combined link thereby to calculate data indicating a predictive accuracy of the traffic data in the combined link. 
     
     
       6. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 5 , wherein the extended link generation unit predicts traffic data in the combined link by use of traffic data per combined link calculated by use of traffic data of the original links configuring the combined link. 
     
     
       7. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the extended link generation unit selects the original links configuring the combined link based on data indicating a predictive accuracy of the traffic data per original link. 
     
     
       8. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined link is configured of the adjacent original links sequentially selected and combined. 
     
     
       9. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 8 , wherein the extended link generation unit calculates data indicating a predictive accuracy of the traffic data in the combined link whenever the selected original link is newly combined, and when the predictive accuracy of the traffic data does not lower in the combined link, decides the newly-combined original link as the original link for generating the extended link. 
     
     
       10. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a predictive cycle decision unit for deciding a cycle at which the traffic data per extended link is to be predicted, wherein the extended link traffic data prediction unit predicts traffic data per extended link at the cycle decided in the predictive cycle decision unit. 
 
     
     
       11. The traffic data prediction device according to  claim 10 , wherein the predictive cycle decision unit decides the cycle based on data indicating a predictive accuracy when traffic data per extended link is predicted at a different cycle. 
     
     
       12. A traffic data prediction method comprising the steps of:
 generating an extended link from original links as predetermined road links; and 
 predicting traffic data per extended link generated in the step of generating an extended link by use of traffic data per original link acquired from an original link traffic data storage unit storing traffic data per original link therein, 
 wherein the step of generating an extended link decides the original links for generating the extended link based on data indicating a predictive accuracy of traffic data in a combined link combining the selected original links, and generates the extended link made of the decided original links as elements. 
 
     
     
       13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the traffic data prediction method according to  claim 12 .